Using this site
Red flags when buying property, and how to read the data gaps we mark
Warning signs to watch for in a Bengaluru property purchase, and what our labels such as not verified, not provided and Request brochure mean for you.
Short answer
A red flag is a reason to ask, not a verdict. This guide lists warning signs about registration, money and pressure, and documents. It also defines our labels: Not verified means we hold no checked value, Not provided means the source field is empty, and Request brochure means no brochure is matched to the exact registration.
A red flag is a reason to ask, not a verdict
A red flag is a sign that something needs an explanation. It is not proof of wrongdoing, and many have innocent causes. The point is to stop before paying and ask for the answer in writing. A seller who answers clearly and shows documents deserves a fair hearing. A seller who avoids the question deserves caution.
Red flags about registration
A missing, unreadable or vague registration number is the first thing to resolve. So is a number that does not appear on the Karnataka RERA portal, or that belongs to a different phase than the flat on offer. A registration whose status shows as revoked or withdrawn needs a written explanation. Our article on verifying a registration explains how to check each point.
A seller who says a registration is under process and asks for a booking amount in the meantime is asking you to carry a risk. Ask what the Act permits at that stage. In general it restricts advertising, booking or selling before registration, and it limits the advance a promoter may take unless a written agreement for sale has been signed and registered. Ask a lawyer to confirm how this applies to you.
Red flags about money and pressure
Watch for urgency that is not tied to a real deadline, such as a launch offer that expires tonight. Watch for requests for large cash payments, for payments to an individual's account instead of the account the promoter has named for the project and for receipts without details. Be wary of any proposal to understate the value in the deed, since this is not a lawful shortcut.
Also notice a refusal to provide a written cost sheet. Our total cost guide says to ask for one, and a seller who will not put the numbers on paper leaves you unable to compare.
Red flags about documents
Look for gaps between papers. The owner's name on the khata may differ from the name on the title. The plan sanctioned may differ from the plan being sold. The area in the brochure may differ from the carpet area in the agreement. Each difference may have a reason, and each is a question.
- Refusal to share the draft agreement before payment.
- Reluctance to let a lawyer review the papers.
- A project sold on the strength of an older phase's registration.
- Possession dates in marketing that differ from the registered date.
- Photos or renders presented as if they were the finished building.
- Claims of guaranteed returns or guaranteed appreciation.
What our data labels mean
Our site marks the limits of what we know. Reading those marks well is part of using the site safely, and none of them is a hidden accusation. They simply say that a fact has not been established from a source we trust.
Not verified means we do not hold a checked value, for example a price. A RERA registration record does not carry price or availability, and when we hold a developer's asking price it is shown as the developer's claim with the date we checked it. Request brochure means we could not match a brochure file to the project's exact registration, so an advisor can send the right one. Not provided means that a field is empty in the source we use, not that the thing does not exist.
How to act on a data gap
Treat a gap as a task. If a price is not verified, ask for the cost sheet. If a brochure is not shown, request it and check that it prints the exact registration number. If a completion date or a status is missing in our copy, open the official portal and read it there. Our data page explains how each source is checked and what remains unverified.
You can also compare two projects and see which fields are blank for each. A blank field is information about our data, not about the quality of the project, so do not rank a project down because a field is empty.
Red flags that are really just missing information
Not every worrying sign is a warning about the seller. Sometimes a sales executive simply does not know the answer, or the person you spoke to is new. Before you decide that a gap is a red flag, ask the question again in writing and give a reasonable time for a reply. A clear written answer that matches the official record resolves most worries, and a repeated refusal to answer is itself informative.
Keep a log of what you asked, whom you asked and when. If the project is later found to differ from what you were told, the log helps you and your lawyer.
When to stop and get advice
If two red flags show up at once, or a seller dismisses a reasonable request, pause the purchase and take the papers to a property lawyer. The cost of an hour of review is small next to the cost of a mistake. Consumer and regulatory complaint routes exist for genuine disputes, and the Karnataka RERA portal has pages for complaint registration and complaint status. We cannot take or judge a complaint, so please use the official channels.
What we cannot tell you
- We cannot say that any specific seller or project is fraudulent or unsafe. A red flag is a prompt to check, and a missing field on our site is not a finding.
- We cannot tell you the reason a field is blank in the source. It may be missing, not yet updated or not applicable.
- This is general information and not legal advice. Take your own papers to a qualified lawyer.
Common questions
- Why is the price shown as not verified?
- A RERA record does not carry a current price or availability. When we hold a developer's asking price we show it as their claim with its check date. Otherwise it stays not verified.
- Why does a project say Request brochure?
- We show a brochure only when its file prints that project's exact RERA registration number or the developer's page confirms it.
- Does a blank field mean a project is poor?
- No. It means our source has no value for that field. Check the official portal and ask the developer.
- What does a Revoked or Withdrawn status mean for me?
- Our listing shows a warning. Check the status on the Karnataka RERA portal before you pay anything.
Sources
Read against these official sources on 18 Oct 2026. Rates, fees and procedures change, so check the current position on each site.